An 8-year-old child is in serious condition after being pulled from a community pool at an apartment complex in the Humble area on Saturday night, according to officials. Deputies and EMS performed life-saving measures at the scene before the child was taken to a nearby hospital, a frightening end to what was supposed to be a holiday weekend by the water.
According to ABC13, the near-drowning happened at the apartment complex at 15808 Crystal Terrace Drive. The child, believed to be 8 years old, was pulled from the community beach club pool and taken to the hospital in serious condition. The Harris County Sheriff's Office released the initial information and said detectives are now investigating how the incident unfolded.
Where it happened
The address matches the Balmoral master-planned community’s Amenity Village and Crystal Clear Lagoon, which promotes a two-acre crystalline lagoon, white-sand beaches and an amenity village with a clubhouse and beach club, according to Balmoral. Residents and visitors use the amenity facilities to access the lagoon and surrounding pools, which are marketed as both family-friendly and resort-style.
Officials and recent incidents
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez urged families to take extra care around pools and open water over the holiday period, according to ABC13. His warning comes on the heels of other recent water tragedies in Harris County, including a toddler found unresponsive in a Huffman-area pool on June 28, which the Houston Chronicle reported was fatal. Investigators say the Humble-area case remains under review as they work to determine how the child ended up in the water.
How to reduce the risk
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death among young children and recommends “layered” prevention that includes close supervision, four-sided fencing, swim lessons, trained lifeguards where available and prompt CPR training, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Officials and safety advocates also stress that adults should designate a dedicated water watcher when children are in or near the water and minimize distractions that can break supervision.
